Short Answer

Signing a German employment contract without checking for predatory clauses binds you to extreme financial liabilities.

The written terms override any verbal promises your boss made during the interview.

What Most Expats Don't Realize

You signed a contract containing the phrase "all overtime is included in the salary" and a post-contract non-compete ban. When you resigned, the company forced you to work 60 hours a week without extra pay and blocked you from joining a local competitor. You had to hire a lawyer to fight the unlawful restrictions, which cost you €2,500 in legal fees and three months of unemployment.

What To Do

  • Print the entire contract and highlight phrases like "Abgeltung von Überstunden" or "Wettbewerbsverbot."
  • Copy the highlighted text into DeepL or ChatGPT to check for disadvantageous terms.
  • "Können wir die Klausel bezüglich der Überstunden streichen?" (Can we remove the clause regarding overtime?) — email this question to HR to create a permanent paper trail.